Differences Between Colleges and Universities

When faced with the choice of what type of post-secondary institution to attend, many students are confused about the decision between colleges and universities. Some students believe, incorrectly, that the terms are synonymous, and others believe that certain differences exist which are, in truth, not at all accurate.

While none of these differences are true in every instance, one of the main differences between colleges and universities is that universities are usually part of a larger network. Universities tend to be comprised of several smaller colleges that specialize in a certain area, such as business, science, or liberal arts. Universities also differ from colleges in that often, universities’ graduate degree programs tend to be more extensive than colleges’.

Despite these differences, colleges and universities have much in common. For example, both have staffs comprised partially of Ph.D. holders, both can be small or large in terms of enrollment, and both are technically eligible for some forms of government funding.